MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO OPERATION OF UNREGISTERED MINES IN 2009

Noyan Tapan

Feb 3, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Nature Protection
completely implemented the envisaged programs in 2008. However, as
the minister Aram Harutyunian stated in the annual report submitted to
the prime minister Tigran Sargsyan on February 3, the implementation
of some measures was delayed due to structural changes.

By the ministry’s report, in 2008 the total amount of nature
protection and nature use payments made 4,741.7 mln drams (about
15.3 mln USD). Checks of 1,642 economic entities were conducted,
with 1,535 violations being revealed. 208 acts on actual amounts
of nature protection and nature use payments were submitted to tax
bodies. The State Nature Protection Inspection sent 22 materials to
the prosecutor’s office, 189 suits to courts for examination.

T. Sargsyan explained that in connection with structural changes
made at the Ministry of Nature Protection, there was a necessity to
clarify a number of measures on efficient use of natural resources
with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

The prime minister said that the RA State Revenue Committee has
some questions about nature protection and nature use payments, in
particular about provision of information on conducted checks and
measurements. In his words, the tax bodies should have an opportunity
to calculate precisely the sums paid by economic entities. "Mines not
shown on maps are often operated, that is, we grant licences for one
area, whereas in reality mines are operated in other areas, which does
not allow tax bodies to calculate precisely the revenues received,"
the prime minister noted, adding that this year the ministry will
pay special attention to the operation of unregistered mines.